Japan Demands Apology Over Russia-Detained Diplomat

Facts

• Japan’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador in Tokyo on Tuesday in response to the detention of Japanese diplomat Tatsunori Motoki, who Moscow accused of espionage.
• Motoki, a consul working in Vladivostok, was reportedly blindfolded, restrained and subjected to “coercive interrogation” during his arrest by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Japan denied the espionage accusations and demanded a formal apology.
• On Monday, the FSB reportedly claimed that Motoki was caught receiving classified information in exchange for payment about Russia’s cooperation with another Asia-Pacific country. The Japanese diplomat was also accused of seeking information on “the impact of Western sanctions.”
• Russia declared Motoki “persona non grata” for activities “detrimental to Russia’s security interests.” The consul was released from custody after several hours and ordered to leave the country within 48 hours, with the FSB reportedly filing a complaint with Japan.
• Earlier, Japan’s embassy in Russia filed a protest against the detention through Moscow’s Foreign Ministry, reportedly accusing Moscow of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and asserting that the request to leave Russia was “unreasonable.”
• Russo-Japanese relations have deteriorated since the beginning of the year when Japan imposed wide-reaching economic sanctions on Russia in response to the war in Ukraine. This was a move away from its rapprochement with Russia of previous years.

Sources: The Guardian, BBC News, Associated Press, Politico, Al Jazeera, and Washington Post.

Narratives

• Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by Japan Times. The accusations against Motoki were clearly fabricated and Russia’s actions were unacceptable. This was a politically-motivated attack and a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Russia must issue a formal apology and a guarantee that similar incidents don’t happen again.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by Tass. Motoki was caught red-handed paying for classified information. His actions are incompatible with the expected behavior of a consular official and infringed on Russia’s security interests. Moscow’s response has been entirely appropriate and reasonable.